By RANDY GONZALES

rgonzales@dailynews.net

Moundridge continued its tradition of excellence in volleyball, winning its eighth state title at the Class 2A State Championships.

The Wildcats (36-9) overpowered Lebo (38-6) in Saturday's championship match at Gross Memorial Coliseum, winning 25-15, 25-20.

Oberlin (39-3) came in as the No. 1 seed, ranked first in the state and had lost one match all season, but lost two on Saturday to finish fourth.

"It was a great season," Oberlin coach Sherri Ruf said. "I'm proud of the girls ... I know they're disappointed."

There was no such disappointment from the Moundridge girls, who dogpiled on the court after the final point of the championship match. When they got their trophy, they screamed and held it high for all to see.

The Wildcats atoned for losing to St. Marys in last year's 2A title match.

"It was disappointing last year," Moundridge coach Bethany Trimble said. "To come back and have that determination ... it was wonderful." It also helped to have 6-foot senior hitter Jessie Vogts at the net. After the Wildcats beat Blue Rapids-Valley Heights in the semifinals, 25-22, 25-20, Vogts dominated from the start of Game 1 of the title match. The Wildcats went on an 8-0 run to take a 9-3 lead. Lebo got no closer in the first game.

"That 6-foot girl was hitting better than (Friday)," Lebo coach Gina Peek said.

In Game 2, Lebo led 8-5 before the Wildcats went on a 6-0 run. Lebo kept it close the rest of the way, getting within 20-17 late in the set. But after a Moundridge time out, the Wildcats put away the Wolves, with Vogts getting the final two points on kills to start the celebration.

"I knew after that first couple hits she had (in the first game), she planned on winning the state championship," Peek said.

Lebo also made it to the title game in 1994, but lost. This time around, rallying to beat Oberlin in three sets (18-25, 26-24, 25-21) in the semifinals took too much out of her squad, Peek said.

"We expended so much energy to get into that (title) match," Peek said.

Ruf said the Red Devils let one get away in the semifinals.

"First match (Saturday), against Lebo, we had them," Ruf said. "They waited for us to make mistakes; we did."

Ruf said her team suffered a letdown in the third-place game against Valley Heights (35-11). After the loss to Lebo in the semifinals, the Red Devils trailed 10-0 before losing 25-15 in the first set, then rallied to win the second set 25-20.

"They came back second set, got them," Ruf said.

But Oberlin but lost the third set, 25-20.

Valley Heights received the third-place trophy while the Red Devils looked on.

Ruf lost six seniors, but she vowed a return to state.

"We'll be back next year," she said. "Good group coming back. Some young ones to fill (the seniors') shoes."